"Taste the Terroir" Tour

Terroir is a French term that can be loosely translated as the sum of all environmental conditions that contribute to the characteristic of an agricultural product, such as wine grapes. This can include climate, soil types, drainage, rain, heat, cooling at night, and many other factors. El Dorado County is one of the most diverse wine making regions in California because, since the mid-1800s, wine grapes have been grown at vastly different elevations, in different soil types, and under different weather conditions. This tour explores four major areas of El Dorado County to taste the different types of wine made in these diverse areas, and to experience the differences in terroir throughout the County.

"Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre" (GSM) Tour

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre make up a signature blend found in the Rhone wines of Southern France. This one day excursion will take you on a journey to discover these wines in both blended and single varietal wines and will take you through all of the regions of El Dorado County.

"Room with a View" Tour

Some of the most breath-taking views of any wine region can be found in El Dorado Wine Country. Our vineyards grow on elevations from 1200 to 3500, and support hundreds of microclimates perfect for a wide variety of grapes, and an amazing viewpoint. From sweeping vistas of the Sierra Nevada and the Crystal Mountain Range, to a tapestry of orchard covered hillsides and vineyards, the tasting rooms at these wineries make up the Room With A View tour. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy (weather permitting)!

"Discovering Barbera" Tour

Discovering Barbera – Barbera is a red wine grape variety from Italy, where it is the third most planted red grape variety after Sangiovese and Montepulciano. It thrives in the rolling hillside vineyards of El Dorado. This wine can vary from medium bodied, fruit forward wines to a more powerful and intense wine that will cellar well. Barbera's consistent characteristics include the deep ruby color and the noticeable levels of tannin and acidity, which when balanced, make this wine a natural with food! The wineries on this tour have a Barbera for you to sample, but specifics and vintages will vary.

"Discovering Petite Sirah" Tour

Developed in the 1870s in France's Rhône region where it is known as Durif or Petite Syrah, this grape variety is more commonly known by its slightly anglicized synonym, Petite Sirah -- particularly in California. The result of a cross between the noble Syrah and a relatively minor Rhône variety, Peloursin, Durif was developed to resist powdery mildew, to which Syrah is susceptible. The grape has adapted well to the drier climates of California, and to those of northeastern Victoria, in Australia. In fact, the grape has succeeded better abroad than in its south of France birthplace, where it is now almost extinct. Petite Sirah thrives in El Dorado and shows off its big inky color, rich fullness and ability to age well.